NEW BIKES
SWINGING A LEG OVER WHAT’S HOT THIS MONTH
LIV INTRIGUE X ADVANCED E+ ELITE
£8,999 • 29/27.5in • liv-cycling.com
NEED TO KNOW
● Giant claims it is the lightest full-power e-mtb on the market at 18.8kg in size Small
● Uses Yamaha’s SyncDrive Pro2 motor with 85Nm of torque powered by an EnergyPak Smart Compact 400Wh battery
● Travel is 140mm at the rear, with a 150mm-travel fork, and it runs a mixed-wheel configuration, with 29in up front and 27.5in out back
● Gets a full Advanced carbon frame and carbon rocker link
● Wireless SRAM GX Eagle AXS groupset with SRAM Code R brakes
A women’s e-bike that slashes weight to the bone and does everything other than ride itself
Tf he new Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ is a new take on the lightweight e-mtb, weighing in at a claimed 18.8kg. But the twist is that it gets a full-fat motor and lightweight, compact battery, so there’s no compromise on power or torque. It’s also designed specifically for women, with all the capabilities needed to rip, roar and explore any trail that’s thrown at it. In fact, Liv claims this is the lightest full-power e-mtb on the market.
Liv is a rare entity in the modern bike world: a brand solely dedicated to women’s bikes. It was founded by Bonnie Tu, Chairwomen of Giant Group (yes, that Giant), and its USP is that its bikes are developed using women-only rider data, with geometry and spec chosen to suit women riders.
Does that mean that Liv bikes are suitable for all women, or that all women will suit Liv bikes? Not at all, and Liv is up front about the fact that not every woman will get on with its bikes. But also that it is unapologetic about putting women front and centre in terms of bike design, athlete support and grass-roots advocacy.
So, in line with the rest of the Liv range, the Intrigue X Advanced E+ has women-specific geometry, and that geometry is distinct to that of the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite, which occupies a similar niche in the Giant product range. Technology may be shared across the sibling brands – so you’ll see a Giant dropper post on the Liv, for example – but that’s as far as it goes.
The full frame, including the Maestro suspension rocker link, is constructed from Advanced-grade carbon composite, and comes in four sizes – XS, Small, Medium and Large – though the size Large is not available in the UK.
Liv has opted for a mixed-wheel size for the Intrigue, even for the size XS bike, which is rare. Plus there’s a flipchip to switch geometry between high and low settings, to suit different trail conditions and riding preferences. In the low setting that gives a trail-ready head angle of 65.8° and seat tube angle of 76°, combined with relatively mid-length 447mm chainstays.
Cables are routed internally via the headset for a neat cockpit
